Device for removing plaster-of-paris casts from the human body



Dec. 3, 1929. C.VALTMA'NI ET AL 1,737,552

DEVICE FOR REMOVING PLASTER OF PARIS CASTS FROM THE HUMAN BODY Filed May7, 1.929

@ W W INVENTORS Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED. STATES,

'PATENT' OFFICE CLAY ALTMAN AND RUSSELL D. ALTM AN, OF OKLAHOMAOITY,OKLAHOMA, AND

HAZEL VIRGINIA PARKEB OF WICHITA, KANSAS DEVICE FOR. REMOVING PLASTER-OFPARIS CASTS FROM HUMAN BODY Application flledMay 7, 1929. Serial No.361,160.

This invention relates to a power driven saw for the splitting ofplaster of Paris casts for removal from the human body or its members.

The objects of thisinvention are to provide a device of this class whichis new, novel,

practical and of utility; which will cut and which is easily handled;which may be readily cleaned; which may be sterilized; which is speedyin operation; which saves time and labor; which will be efficient inaccomplishing all the purposes for which it is intended. In so far asthese inventors are informed or can ascertain there is now in use nodevice of this character for the purpose for which this device I isintended. Plaster of Paris casts are now being removed by cutting with aknife, a process which is slow, laborious, productive of nervous strainto both operator and patient, and fraught with the danger of cuttinginto the flesh of the latter.

With these and'other objects in viewas will more fully appear ourinvention consists in the construction, novel features, and combinationof parts hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claimshereto appended,,and illustrated in the accompanying one-sheet drawing,of which,

Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of shoe, showing knife and pivotal plate.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in all the figures.

It is understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size,shape, weight and other details of construction, within the scope of ourinvention may be-resorted to without departing from the spirit or broadprinciple of our invention and without sacrificing any of the advantagesthereof; and it is also'understood that the drawings are to be inter-.shoe 17. Adjacent the central surface upper forward portion with an Lshaped r0 preted as being illustrative and not restrictive. A

A practical embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawingsincludes:

A disc saw 1 rotating forwardly on a shaft 2 of a motor disposed in amotor housing 3. I

Said saw 1 is clamped by a washer 4 and lock nuts 5, threaded upon theend portion 6 of said shaft 2, which extends through the perforated sideof and into a saw housing 7.

Said housing 7 preferably cast of aluminum or the like,-may comprise inone piece a vertical side 8, a top 9 together with a s ring housing 10disposed thereupon, a hand e 11, of saw handle design, a front end 12,and a rear end 13. The thickness of the casting at said ends 12 and 13and said top 9 forms an edge 14 providing a seat for a vertical sideplate 15, conforming in size and sha e to said vertical side 8. Saidedge 14 an said plate 15 have a plurality of threaded perfora- 'tionsshown at 16 for machine screws of the same index niimber. Said sawhousing 7 is widely curved convexly from its said front" end 12 to itssaid to .9, and, at its said rear end 13 is sharply an convexly curveddownward from said top 9, and thence angled forward and downward to apoint horizontally in line with the lowermost portion of'said' end 12. 1

A shoe 17 is provided, consistgng of a narrow flat base roundly pointeda its forward end 18. 'A cutting blade 19 positioned edgewise, slopesgradually upward. and backward from the surface of the central forwardportion of said shoe 17. Said blade 19 may be made detachable, from, or.integral with, said rtion of said shoe, and extending there romvertically and longitudinally thereto are two narrow ribs 20, alincd andparallel one with the other. Extendin verticall from the rear portion ofsaid s oe 17 an preferably cast into al therewith is a plate 21. Said 1plate 21 1s circularly indented as to its fore ward edge portion 22, inorder that there may be no interference when assembled, with 4 theaction of said saw 1. Its uppertrear portion is provided with aperforation 22", i

horizontal portion of which is pivotally extended therethrough andsecured by cotter pin 24 or other usual means. A notch 25 is formed intheupper edge portion of said plate 21.

In assembly said saw 1 is positioned within said housing 7, locked u onthe end portion 6 of said shaft 2 exten ing therewithin,

' spring housing 10, said L-rod 23 is topped by a knurled thumb nut 29upon its threaded end30. A set screw 31 threadedly perforated said top 9rests its lower extremity 32 in the said notch of said plate 21. Saidplurality of screws 16 are a plied through Said SimI- larly threaded perorations in said side plate 15 and in said edges 14, for the securepositioning of said plate 15 thereupdn. Thus positioned pivotally withinsaid housing 7, said plate 21 and thereby said shoe 17 are restrainedfrom downward movement by the said compression spring 28, and prohibitedfrom upward movement by said adjustable set screw 31. As a guide toprevent sidewise movement of said plate 21 I provide on the inner faces,respectively, of said side 8 and said side plate 15, a plurality of lugs33 opposing each; otherin pairs and contacting lightly the two sides ofsaid plate 21. The

' positioning of said plate 21 brings said ribs 20 on said shoe 17 to aposition, one upon either side of the lowermost teeth of said saw 1, andestablishes said knife 19 in line with and mmediately forward of saidsaw 1.

Said motor housing 3 may be cast integral with said saw housing 7, orit, together with its wire conduit 34 and switch 35 of any usual design,may be attached to said saw housing side 8 by any usual means.

It is not desired to limit this invention to direct motor drive, as itmay be found ex pedient or desirable to connect the saw with a fpowermeans not shown, by a flexible drive 0 usual or desired character. 4

In use it will be understood 'that the device' as shown will beconnected with any usual electric circuit through wires 36. Guided bysaid handle 11, the said toe 18 of said shoe 17 will be inserted underthe bandages and cast which is tobe removed, cur- 'rent will be appliedthrough said switch 35 to motor. Said saw 1 will be rotated in a forwardmotion as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, causing same to biteinto-and split the plaster of Paris mold shown as 37. On the under sideof said mold 37 saidshoe 17 lying between the flesh of the body memberand the said saw 1, will serve to protect said bod member and will,through its sloping knie 19 and said ribs 20 bring and keep said plastermold in contact with the advancing saw If A further use of the saidsloping knife 19 is to cut the bandages 38, lying between the mold andthe body member.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms otherthan that which is illustrated in the accompanyin drawmgs and describedherein, and applica Is for uses and purposes other than asdetailed, andwe, therefore, consider as our own all such modifications andadaptations and other uses of the form of the device other than asherein described as fairly fall within the scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A past removing device, as described, embodying, a power drivencircular saw, a housing therefor, a shoe beneath said saw hinged to saidhousing and adapted for ver-' tical movement, means for controlling theextent of said movement, an upstanding blade "upon said shoe in front ofsaid saw, anupstanding rib on said shoe at'each side of said saw, all asand for the purposes specified.

2. A device, as described,- embodying, a power driven circular saw, ahousing therefor, a handle attached to the rear portion of said housing,afiat shoe pivotally attached within said housing extendinlongitudinally therebelow to a point in ont of said saw, an upstandingknife member disposed centrally upon the a pair of parallel upstandingribs longltudinally disposed upon the central portion of said shoe oneeach upon each side of the loweredge of said saw, means for. adjustinthe closest proximity of said saw and $9.1 shoe, means for adjustablyvarying limiting the space between said saw and said shoe, all as andfor the purposes specified.

3. A device, as described, embodying, a direct motor driven circularsaw, a metal housing therefor, a handle for said device attached to .theupper rear ortion of said housing, a round-pointed, pivotally attachedwithin said housing extending longitudinally therebelow to a oint infront of said saw, an upstandin s arp edged knife member disposedcentral y upon the front portion of said shoe, 2. pair of. parallelupstanding ribs longitudinall disposed upon the central portion of saishoe one each upon each side .of the lower edge at, metal shoe ontportion of said shoe,

space between said saw and said shoe, allas I and for the purposesspecified.

4., Adevice, as described, in combination, a dlrect motor drivencircular saw, a metal housing therefor, a handle'for said deviceattached to the upper rear portion of said housing, a round-pointed,flat, metal shoe pivotallyattached Within said housing extendinglongitudinally therebelow to a point in front of said saw, an upstandingsharp edged knife member disposed centrally upon the front portion ofsaid shoe, a pair of parallel upstanding ribs longitudinally disposedupon the central portion of said shoe one each upon each side of thelower edge of said saw, means for adjusting the closest proximity ofsaidsaw and said shoe, spring means for adjustably-varyingly limitingthe space he; tween said saw and said shoe, all as and for the purposesspecified.

'5. The combination with a power driven circular saw and its housing andhandle, ofa shoe beneath said saw hinged to said housing and adapted forvertical movement, means upon said housing for controlling the extent ofsaid movement, an upstanding blade upon said shoe in front of said saw,an upstanding rib on said shoe at each side of said saw, all as and forthe purposes specified.

CLAY ALTMAN. -RUSSELL D. ALTMAN.

HAZEL VIRGINIA PARKER.

